Brakettes' Bats Sizzle in Sunday Sweep of Blasters

July 8, 2007 - The Brakettes continued their home run derby Sunday, belting five more long balls, en route to 9-2 and 12-1 wins over the Maurer and Scott Blasters of Allentown, PA. Courtney Bures smashed two homers in the first game, and Killian Roessner hit a walk-off grand slam in the second.

Brandice Balschmiter did not have pinpoint control in the early contest, but still struck out 10, and allowed just one hit. She walked two, and allowed a first inning run to score on a wild pitch. Despite her early struggles, Balschmiter finished strong, retiring the last 11 batters she faced in order.

After the Blasters took a 1-0 lead in top of the first, Bures tied the game with her second inning solo shot. Her second blast highlighted a seven-run home fourth, and gave her a team-leading five round-trippers for the season. She had three RBI and four runs scored on the afternoon. Candice Freel had a two-run double in the fourth, hitting the fence in centerfield, and just missing her second homer in as many days. Sari-Jane Jenkins and Denise Denis each had two hits for the locals in the first game. Jill Cimminello scored the last Brakette run in the fifth.

Karen Bauer had another impressive day for the Blasters, walking twice and scoring in the first game, and driving in a run and collecting a single in the second. Her fielder’s choice ground ball to short scored Stephanie Meekus for the lone Blasters tally in the late game.

Freel again had to work just five innings in the second game, striking out four and scattering two hits. She allowed an uncharacteristic two straight walks in the third, loading the bases and setting the table for Bauer’s RBI groundout. Freel then induced a grounder to third to end the Blaster’s rally.

Denis gave the Brakettes a 1-0 lead in the first inning, with her third home run of the weekend. The Brakettes added two more in the second, as Stephanie Hill scored on Jenkins’ fielder’s choice to left field, and Allison Twarowski came home on a wild pitch. Five consecutive Brakette hits in the third led to three more runs, and the lead stretched to 6-1. Hill smashed her first homer of the year in the fourth inning, a two-run blast which also scored Bures, and pushed the lead to 8-1.

Denis and Mandie Fishback singled in the bottom of the fifth, and Bures reached on an error, leaving the dramatic finish up to Roessner. The Brakettes’ catcher lined a pitch over the left field wall, clearing the bases and ending the game at 12-1.

Hill was 3-for-3 in the late game, as was Cimminello. Twarowski and Denis each had two safeties.

With the victory, the Brakettes improved to 35-0 for the summer. They will travel to Allentown, PA to take on the NPF Philadelphia Force in a four-game series. Single contests will be played each night from Tuesday through Friday, and all games will be broadcast at www.brakettes.com.

First Game


Second Game